Sports Network

ST. PAUL, MINN. - The Minnesota Wild will reportedly name Mike Yeo, the current coach of the AHL's Houston Aeros, their new head coach.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Yeo, who is just 37 and was an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins for five seasons, will make the jump to the NHL.

The Wild called a news conference for noon (et) on Friday to name a new head coach, but the team didn't disclose further details.

Minnesota needs a replacement for Todd Richards, who was fired following this past season. Richards compiled a 77-71-16 record and failed to lead his club to the playoffs in either of his two years at the helm.

Yeo, who guided the Aeros to the Calder Cup Finals, would become the third coach in Wild franchise history. As a player, he was a prospect of the Penguins and started playing in the minors in 1990 with Sudbury. However, he suffered a career-ending knee injury after playing in just 19 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton during the 1999-2000 campaign.

Yeo spent one season as coach of the Aeros, going 46-28-1-5.

There is a connection between Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher and Yeo. Fletcher was the assistant GM of the Penguins when Yeo was in Pittsburgh, and the two won a Stanley Cup championship in 2009.